From LaBelle, Florida for Hendry and Glades County and the Lake Okeechobee region. Don Browne, editor.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Brother-Sister Kidnapping Suspects Arrested

Cruz Gets His "Wish" To Go To Jail - Infant Found In Orange Grove

LABELLE, FL. -- Hugo Cruz, 17 years old was arrested on April 15, 2009, on charges of Kidnapping, Resisting and Officer, Obstruction without Violence, after refusing to surrender custody of his infant child to the child's mother, Viviana Morales.

The entire incident began on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 when Civil Deputies served Cruz with a court ordered Temporary Injunction for Protection against Domestic Violence with Minor Children awarding temporary custody of the minor child to the mother. Cruz told Sgt. Hollingsworth that the child was not at the home but was in Immokalee with his sister. Again Sgt. Hollingsworth explained to Cruz that he must produce the child and return him to the mother, at which time Cruz told her "I'll go to jail before I give him back to the mother."

The next morning Hendry County Sheriffs Deputies were notified that Cruz had not complied with the court order and was concealing the whereabouts of the 10 month old infant. Deputies responded to 1690 Ute Street in LaBelle making contact with Cruz and placed him under arrest for violation of a court order. Cruz was taken to the Sheriffs Office for questioning as to the whereabouts of the child and to determine the infant's physical condition. Cruz refused to provide any information and instead fabricated information even indicating that the child may be in Tennessee.

An all out search began Road Deputies and Criminal Investigators searched around the immediate areas and followed up on any tips received. Later that afternoon Investigators and Deputies received an anonymous that indicated that Cruz's 18 year old sister, Adriana and the baby were hiding in an orange grove near the home. Road Officers were able to find both Adriana and the child. The baby was taken into custody and returned to the mother by DCF investigators; Adriana Cruz was arrested and charged with Kidnapping of a child under the age of 13.